"COUNCILMAN LAST SEEN AS JOSE HUIZAR" on political steroids??

Political art by Doug Davis in today's Los Angeles Downtown News

Some salient observations.

First, for those of us in CD 14, we have never known the "COUNCILMAN LAST SEEN AS JOSE HUIZAR" to sweat over anything job related, unless it deals with ethics violations or "Papi Villar's" directives.

Second, wife has stronger legs carrying around all those kids.

Third, is that really Villar?? Or are Villar and Huizar one in the same??

Four, will Jessica do all the work on the Broadway Project only to see Huizar get the credit??

Five, How much capital will Dubai kick in for this project??

....and lastly, will the "COUNCILMAN LAST SEEN BLOGGIN AS JOSE HUIZAR" post comments on his blog about Doug Davis artistic aptitude??

Editorials on Mayor Villaraigosa's $5 Billion Housing Plan

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's ambitious 5 year, $5,000,000,000 Housing Plan has garner some interesting responses in print publications big and small.

From the big soon to be small LA Times, "A foundation, at least".

It is easy -- too easy -- to be underwhelmed by the housing plan released this week by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Much of it we have seen before: streamline the development process, encourage denser housing near transit stops, build permanent supportive housing to get the chronically homeless off the streets. Great ideas, if only they would be fully implemented. **Even controversial elements such as "mixed-income housing" -- a mandate that all new developments include "affordable" units -- come with few particulars and leave the nuts-and-bolts discussions for later.(**Nice of the Times to point out Ed Reyes's contribution to the Mayor's plan).

Jumping over the Santa Monica Mountains, we get this from Ron Kaye's old stomping grounds at the Daily News, "The mayor's plan for affordable housing has curious timing".

WHILE a worried nation waited for Congress to save the mortgage-mangled U.S. economy with $700 billion in Wall Street relief this week, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was already moving on with his five-year, $5 billion answer to the city's affordable-housing woes.

This interesting timing raises one important question: Is Antonio crazy-smart, or just crazy? (Ahh, crazy and smart??)

Back in Downtown LA we have the news story and editorial, "Mixed-Income Ordinance Needs Work" from the Downtown News.

From the editorial,

It is too early for this page to take a stance on whether to support or oppose the Mixed-Income Ordinance, as what the Council will ultimately vote on - if it even gets that far - will almost certainly be far different from what has been presented to date (the basics calls for requiring 12.5%-22.5% of units in large projects to be set aside for low- to moderate-income households, or developers could pay to have the units constructed elsewhere). What we do urge, however, is that Villaraigosa and those pushing the proposal proceed very carefully and consult with all sides. We also urge that they keep a keen focus on the happenings and situation in Downtown Los Angeles. This community has seen far more residential development than any other part of the city in the past decade, and there are still dozens of housing projects proposed for the area. Thus, any ordinance requiring affordable units would have a particularly heavy impact in Downtown. (One should also take into consideration that the current administration at City Hall has issues with developing a "END GAME" on a vast variety of initiatives, can one remember the Million Tree Initiative??)

Then we finish with this from the "Downtown Garment and Citizen", "Villaraigosa Housing Proposal: Billions of Dollars and Too Little Sense".

The Garment & Citizen appreciates Villaraigosa’s willingness to step up to a challenge. We like politicians who want the spotlight when the going gets tough. We also appreciate Villaraigosa’s political instincts, which are usually well-honed.

We must, however, respectfully inform the mayor that he has gone tone deaf on this one.

Our nation is currently amid a crisis wrought by a lot of folks who talked in vague terms about the financial aspects of housing, and a bunch more who didn’t listen closely enough. We have a bunch of elected officials trying to figure out what to do about our problems, and it’s a safe bet that many of them still can’t explain how Wall Street’s exotic financial instruments figure into the misery. We have a big chunk of our corporate class that used to revel in the sharp edges of the free market but now await government rescue.

Now is not the time to launch a $5 billion proposal that relies on “tax-credit equity” for even a single bit of its funding. Not unless you are willing and able to explain the meaning of tax-credit equity, and how it benefits taxpayers. Nor is this the proper climate for putting 20% down on a $5 billion proposal and “leveraging” the rest of the funding. (Sounds right on to me...)

Your comments greatly appreciated.........

A "Q and A" with "Madam Mayor Jan Perry",....at least for next week.

This is no joke!!

With Tony, Eric, Wendy and others off to Denver to witness the coronation of the "Presumptive Teleprompter President",......and the final dissing of Hillary.

We shall be left to witness the brief era of "Madam Mayor Jan Perry, notice the expressions on the faces of public servants Antonio Villaraigosa and Bill Bratton.

Madame Mayor Perry even found time to sit down with the "Downtown News" to give her thoughts on her brief fling as the "Third Floor Overlord".

Here is some of the dialog,

Q: What mayoral power are you most looking forward to exercising?

A: I would love to give everyone a raise, but I can't because we don't have the money.

Q: From the outside, the mayor's job looks pretty glamorous. As the public, what don't we see?

A: I think the role of the mayor is to be the steward of the budget, to manage the city's major assets, to make sure we are as close as possible to being solvent, to make sure the city is safe and secure, and that our links to the federal government with respect to social services are strong - in the current administration, they have not been. (taking a shot at Villar, or Bush??)

Q: What does your fantasy week as mayor look like?

A: No homicides. Affordable housing built throughout the city, and a bed for every homeless person who's now on the street throughout the city and the county. That's my fantasy. It's a big order. I'd have to move fast.

Strangly nothing about Fast Food................

Your thoughts on the "Madam Mayor Perry".

"Antonioh, The Places You'll Go!" A Poem by Jon Regardie

Downtown News Editor Jon Regardie pens a poem to the traveling Mayor in the theme of Dr, Seuss.

Congratulations!

It's time for you to fly.

You're off to Great Places!

Cuz you're the mayor, that's why!

You have friends in high places.

You have funds that need raising.

You have voters to please.

You have trips that need taking.

You'll bring dozens of pals, some will pay their own way.

You can earn a kajillion frequent flier miles today.

You'll see cities and nations. You will choose them with care.

You'll travel by car and by train, but mostly by air.

You'll invite reporters, even if they're like leeches.

Because reporters will report on your fascinating speeches.

Antonioh!

The places you'll go!

You voyaged to Israel where you pressed lots of flesh.

Spent a cool quarter-million, but it's for L.A.'s best!

And if someone protests, pretend you don't care.

You're not the mayor of some small town in the desert somewhere.

Read the rest by clicking here .

Selling the city

Please, call me AnVil.

You’ve gotta admit, Mayor Sam’s writers and commenters have come up with some pretty clever nicknames for our Dear Leader Antonio Villaraigosa over the years. We’ve had ADV®, VillarSalinas, and, of course, Mayor PolloVillar.

Introducing: AnVil—a syllabic abbreviation you can almost envision adopted by the mainstream press—courtesy of Downtown News’ Executive Editor, Jon Regardie, who argues, “…if J Lo becomes common vocal currency, then why not?”

A standout Angeleno, Regardie doesn’t stop there, offering up a slew of potential naming rights sales opportunities for the city in these dark days of budget. Whole Foods Ninth Council District anyone? Read on.

~~~

Update: A reader suggests selling Central Los Angeles Area High School #9 naming rights to Knott's Berry Farm.

The City's Big Dance

a peek at a bracket...

The Downtown News has a two-page March madness styled "tournament" pitting 64 civic entities against each other, including results. The piece, a collaboration between exec ed/conceptualizer Jon Regardie and artist Doug Davis (whose style reminds me very much of the great Herald Ex cartoonist of long ago, Karl Hubbenthal), is intended as humor, and delivers that, especially when you look at it matchup by matchup.

But I think the piece could also serve as a superb educational tool for civics discussions in local high schools, junior colleges, and colleges, and local adult learning discussion groups. Who is Planning Director Gail Goldberg? Why do you think she "loses" in the first round? Who is Jose Huizar and why is he facing playing tenants? Why is the Mayor with City Lobbyists in the final?

You can find the large (over 1 meg) pdf here if you click that link. But I recommend picking up a copy at a newsstand, and pouring over it for a while. The issue has hit the stands; ye who follow city politics so closely won't be disappointed, and those who don't will get a quick education, seeing the City in a way they haven't before.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

A big day for one of the projects on our list of faultlines for the Coming City Superstorm happens Tuesday in the Los Angeles City Council Chambers. Councilman Greig Smith will seek to put an end to work by the City of Los Angeles on the environmental impact report for the controversial Las Lomas development. Smith will battle Councilman Richard Alarcon who is seeking to bring the project under the control of the City of Los Angeles despite objections from the County and the City of Santa Clarita.

Mayor V wants to raise your trash fees and he supports raising your electricity and water rates too. If you want to protest the trash tax, KFI's John and Ken are encouraging you to mail your trash to Tony Villar.

Our friend Jon Regardie at the LA Downtown News has a great piece - the Tony Villar re-election announcement press conference that wasn't. But we can dream right?

Rick Orlov is right that it won't go anywhere but a group of "progressive" Democrats held an event to issue a "no-endorsement" for Democrats Henry Waxman and Howard Berman. I guess Waxman and Berman are not liberal enough for this group. (Okay I'll stop laughing.)

And finally Mayor Villaraigosa won an award from a Filipino group and told attendees gathered "Filipinos are not invisible to me." By the way the event was held at the Autry National Center, another faultline on our list of The Coming City Superstorm.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

Is Eric Garcetti on Barack Obama's short list for Vice Presidential candidates? Not likely but he joined City Controller Laura Chick at a rally to support the popular Presidential candidate.

The LA Downtown News has come out with their "80 in 08" list of people, projects and events that "will power Downtown this year." This blog was honored to be on that list under the category of "five blogs downtowners will visit frequently in 2008."

latinopoliticsblog.com questions the strategic wisdom of the Hillary Clinton campaign having Mayor Villaraigosa tag along in New Hampshire. More importantly - the blog drives home - why isn't the Mayor at home solving problems instead of playing Presidential politics out of state?

So much for "We Report You Decide" at Fox News. Maverick Republican Presidential Candidate Ron Paul has been bounced from their on-air debates as well as third party candidates. An activist group, rockthedebates.org is pressing to get pledges from the Democratic and Republican candidates to debate Libertarians, Greens and other third party candidates. So far Paul and Mike Huckabee have signed on; Barack Obama, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney are opposed. What are they afraid of?

The one candidate who could take down the incumbent in the 35th Congressional District here in California. Ted Hayes has announced his candidacy for the seat currently held by Maxine Waters.

There's a slew of propositions on the ballot next month that deal with Indian Gaming with some tribes and their money on one side and some on the others and some of them lined up with horse tracks, all in the name of stopping competition. This all points to the fact that Indian Gaming has become a big scam and if we're going to have gambling in California, lets open up casino ownership to anyone.

Like many LA denizens, bloger Los Angelista finds lot of reasons to hate LA - including gangs, traffic and Mayor Villaraigosa - but every reason to love her own neighborhood.

We covered the story of the Disney Company turning NIMBY when someone wanted to build condos near Disneyland. Looks like Disney may have run the developer off with the threat of a ballot measure to shut them down.